GALVESTON, Texas (March 24, 2016) – Millions of visitors flock to Galveston’s 32-mile-coast every summer, but there’s more to the island than its sparkling Gulf waters. This summer, Galveston will be a hot spot for fun festivals and special events, including one of the nation’s largest sandcastle building competitions and Texas’ largest craft beer festival.

AIA Sandcastle Competition

June 4, 2016

For the 30th year, Houston area architects, designers, engineers, and contractors will take their tools to Galveston’s East Beach for one of the world’s largest amateur sandcastle competitions. The Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) sponsors this annual contest in which the public is invited to watch more than 80 teams compete for the best sandcastle design.www.aiasandcastle.com

Corvettes Cruisin’ Galveston

June 3-5, 2016

More than 1,000 Corvettes are expected to converge on Galveston Island for the second annual Corvettes Cruisin’ Galveston event. The weekend begins with a car show and special events for participants, plus a fundraiser that will benefit area charities. The event concludes with an 80-mile, round-trip drive from Galveston’s east end to Surfside. www.corvesttescruisingalveston.com

Galveston Juneteenth Celebration

June 5-19, 2016

Galveston hosts several days of festivities for Juneteenth – a holiday that originated in this historic Texas beach town. This year’s festivities will include a crawfish festival, picnics, African-American heritage exhibits, reenactments, concerts and more. The annual reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in front of the official Juneteenth monument will take place June 19 in Galveston to help commemorate June 19, 1865 – the date the last slaves in the United States were freed. www.galveston.com/africanamericanguidebook

Independence Day Parade & Fireworks Display

July 4, 2016

If you’re looking for a change of scenery to celebrate Independence Day, Galveston Island is just the place to make your holiday a true getaway. From fireworks over the beach to a traditional hometown parade, Galveston will offer plenty of excitement for the 4th of July. In the evening, Galveston Island will celebrate its annual Independence Day parade featuring a procession of floats, decorated military vehicles and performers. After the parade, the island will host a 20-minute fireworks show over the Gulf of Mexico. www.galveston.com/calendarofevents

Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival

September 2-4, 2016

Don’t miss one of the largest craft beer festivals in Texas as Galveston’s Moody Gardens hosts the Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival over Labor Day weekend. The event will feature more than 400 craft beers with a celebration showcasing award-winning “brewmasters” at two signature events: the BrewLicious Beer & Food Pairing and the BrewHaHa Grand Tasting. Attendees can hoist their mugs while enjoying live music, beer and food pairing seminars, educational events about brewing and more.www.brewmastersbeerfest.com

For a full list of events happening in Galveston this summer, visit www.galveston.com.

About Galveston Island

Galveston Island is a historic beach town located on the Gulf of Mexico just 50 miles from Houston. The island is best known as a vacation destination, offering 32 miles of beaches, a variety of family attractions, Texas’ premier cruise port and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country. For more information on Galveston Island visit www.galveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.